Alain Vigneault Playing Quotations

We're looking at getting him 50 games, plus the playoffs. He didn't even play 50 last year combined with the playoffs (Flaherty played 48 total), that's why I've been careful with his playing time and rest time.

Obviously when something like that happens, there is major disappointment and status quo is not going to do it. There are some good players there and some people that were working the players. Why they didn't come together? I don't know because I'm not there. Everybody has got a theory on it and we'll let everybody work on their theory and we're going to focus on the Manitoba Moose, playing this last game well and getting ready for the playoffs.

Part of gearing up for the playoffs is playing well. So we lost that game. We've got five more to play and if we catch up, we catch up. If we don't, we'll be third and finish from there.

The only thing that would be up in the air are those final games against Cleveland. There it will be what (Flaherty) feels is best for his game. The other thing is we need to have Max playing well because we might need him. You never know what's going to happen.

Those teams are playing really well right now. We're in a tough division, a good division. You've got to get better every week.

It's not going to stop him from playing (today) ... to my knowledge. He said he's going to be fine.

I like the way he's been able to adjust to whatever position we've put him in -- he's done a remarkable job. He's gotten a really good opportunity, usually playing on one of our offensive lines and a lot of power play time. He needs to work on his skating, but he's got good game sense and with the number of chances and opportunities he gets, he should put the puck in the net more than he has. But his work ethic and overall play this year is solid. He took the opportunity and ran with it and did a good job. He's earned it.

If he wants to play in the NHL against good teams, now he's playing against one of the top teams in the American League and he's got to find away to make a difference in the game. The only difference I see is that Max doesn't play the puck as much around his net as Flats (Wade Flaherty).